Avast let over 21,000 virii into my system since my last full scan last month. Thanks Avast! I noticed it when my download/upload monitor reported "Hey, you just uploaded 19gigs of data over the last 24 hours". While I begin to backup and scrub my system to format it, I need to ask....best antivirus? Cuz Avast ain't it!

I currently use the Kaspersky Total Security Suite and have been very pleased with it. I tried using Microsoft Security Essentials on my last system, but the installer would crash every time I tried to install it. Was never able to figure it out, so I went with Kaspersky and didn't look back.

While I use noscript in Mozilla too, I have been using ESET's NOD 32 antivirus for several years now (there's a 64-bit version available, I think they're all called "32" for whatever reason). The basic version (rather than the "security package," which I consider bloated) is supposed to do some anti-spyware/malware protection too. They offer a free trial version I think.

I've been fairly happy with it, and it's not a resources hog. Then again, since it hasn't found a virus or other nasty on my PC in four years, maybe it just doesn't work at all or I'm just crazy lucky.

Of course, I guarantee you will not find any sort of agreement online about antivirus software. You'll read a lot of glowing reviews of stuff that people on message boards complain about, or vice-versa etc. I guess that goes for just about anything these days though.

Dunno. I use Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free and I haven't had any virus problems.

I had it let though a nasty virus a few months back. I was way behind on windows updates so that might have been much more to blame. After the reformat it is still all I run, although now I lets windows update with or without me weekly.

I've had really good luck over time with a combination of Spybot Search and Destroy, Malwarebytes, Microsoft Security Essentials, and the occasional sweep with DrWeb CureIt, which is available as a free download that didn't need to be installed to run a sweep with the latest. So far, nothing has managed to penetrate that combination, while using NoScript in conjunction with Firefox.

NoScript may be a pain to work through, but I consider it absolutely necessary in maintaining a 'secure' system. A backup choice might be to use Chrome, since it seems to default to or is capable of similar behavior of not allowing scripts unless you approve them. Chrome not installed atm, so I can't remember how it sets up by default, but I _think_ the previous statement is relatively true.

Flattened the lappie? Ouch I hope you meant that figuratively.

Atomic

PS: Reinstalling windows from a usb stick is MUCH less painful than from optical. Get a copy of the .iso with SP1 already included, will save you on updates from now on. (if you haven't already done any of this)PS2: That Ashampoo stuff looks interesting. Gonna give it a whirl. Thankyou for the free version link.

Sadly, that was a re-image for the laptop as well. I share files between all the time, so it was the only way to really be safe. I figured if something had punched a hole in my system, simply removing the something doesn't magically close that hole. Nuke from orbit - the only way to be sure.

I've set up Firefox with NoScript and I'm training it. It is a pain, but it's better than the alternative. I ended up going with (of all things) Norton 360 Premium. I had a code that made it dirt cheap for 3 PCs and from the reviews it'll do the trick and then some. Guess we'll see...

As for the iso - yea, I think I'm going to pick up a cheap 8GB thumbdrive to do exactly that. Good thinkin.

[DISCLAIMER]I work for a major provider of security software so my opinions are probably biased (though not necessarily towards my employer). Along those same lines, what I'm posting reflects my opinion and not necessarily theirs.[/DISCLAIMER]

There is no AV vendor that will keep you 100% safe. The ability for a bad person to pay a couple hundred bucks and download a kit that allows them to create software that will defeat damn near any AV technology in the world with a few clicks of buttons creates a huge arms race problem for the security vendors.

What I can tell you is that certain technologies are much better at detecting malware than others. I will rank them in the order in which I believe them to be the most effective:Whitelisting (Bit9) - most effective at stopping bad things, but a gigantic pain in the ass.Reputation (Symantec) - nice compromise from whitelisting, but depending on your reputation settings some stuff will get through.Network Stack Analysis / Host Based Intrusion Prevention (Most major pay players) - good at detecting browser based exploits.Virtualization/Sandboxing (Many major pay players) - neat tech, somewhat effective, huge performance cost, shockingly easy to beat by advanced malware.Heuristics (Almost everyone, even the free players) - not bad, but easy to defeat.Signatures/Blacklisting (Everyone) - Terrible. Only good at catching the super obvious.

Personally I run the software that my company provides because it's pretty good and is free for me. If I worked for another of the major vendors, I'd probably run one of theirs. I'd never run the free stuff because I've seen too many lab reports showing it to be crap. I've watched people defeat it with a few mouse clicks. To me, it's barely above running anything at all.

That being said, if you do a lot of browsing and/or file sharing with lots of people, it's really only a matter of time before you get infected regardless of what AV software you are using, IMHO.

BTW 360 is a pretty good product but it's UI is seemingly designed with the mind that the end user is utterly retarded. Norton Internet Security is the same protection engine in a non shitty UI, and costs less.

I haven't used anything Norton/Symantec in years because their software became so bloated and it was difficult to get rid of once you installed it. Has it gotten better?

The more recent versions (2009+, I think) run very cleanly. You don't even need to bother turning them off anymore if you are gaming, and this is on a relatively old system. They do provide a horrific amount of annoying OMG YOU ARE GOING TO GET INFECTED notices once your subscription is up though. Uninstalling seems relatively painless on Win7.

Tip on uninstalling AV: most of the paid AV vendors have nice uninstall utilities for their competitors that run while you install their product. Much easier than uninstalling yourself if you're switching to another vendor.

I didn't want to make a whole separate thread, so I apologize if I derail, but do any of you guys have antivirus/malware recommendations for Mac also? I reformatted my gaming PC and I now use it only for gaming. I bought a MacBook Air as a general purpose computer, but it is my first Mac and I am not familiar with Mac software. I have always heard they are less likely to get a virus, but with the rise in popularity in Macs I figure more viruses will be written for them so I want to make sure I am covered.

I didn't want to make a whole separate thread, so I apologize if I derail, but do any of you guys have antivirus/malware recommendations for Mac also? I reformatted my gaming PC and I now use it only for gaming. I bought a MacBook Air as a general purpose computer, but it is my first Mac and I am not familiar with Mac software. I have always heard they are less likely to get a virus, but with the rise in popularity in Macs I figure more viruses will be written for them so I want to make sure I am covered.

My wife actually got a virus recently on hers, which was pretty surprising, as I haven't had to remove a virus off a Mac in about 20 years. I grabbed a free program online...I believe it was Sophos, which took care of it.

I've been using Norton 360 for a few years now... As he mentioned, it is a much better product than in the past... and it has been on the top of a few independent lab tests on and off for a while now...

Thanks for all the great advice you guys. I did change every password. I also cancelled my debit card and had it reissued under a new number. I hate this feeling like somebody else has my information, so I'm going with the nuke from orbit option.